Mt. Mandalagan - Panikang-tikang 2015

               

 It was April 17 of 2015, Potsky my outdoor friend based in Bacolod City invited me to there annual climbing event hosted by GreenAlert org. titled "Panikang-tikang". Title itself seems interesting so without hesitation I asked my soon to be better half to join the said event and she said yes, why not? after all Bacolod City is not that far from Mabinay and so to make us more merrier in the climb I invited Cliff and Boyet. We were four from Mabinay. Around 2 o'clock in the morning we waited an early Ceres bus trip going to Bacolod City, It took us 3 hours to arrived in Bacolod and so we still had time to catch up our sleep and had a power nap.

                At 6 in the morning we arrived to the City of Smile, Bacolod City, I txted potsky and good thing he said we will just wait them in the terminal because they will just picked up in a while. Less than 15 minutes Potsky with their warmed and accommodating group arrived and we head directly to the new government complex or new capitol in Bacolod. there we meet and greet our co participants in the said event. I took pictures while waiting. Here seen its Claire my better half, Cliff on black shirt and Boyet on gray.

  
   
Picture taking before going to the jump off site with some of the participants also.
At 7 morning our ride going to the jump off arrived and we went directly to the jump off area located passing through Campuestohan a very famous destination in Bacolod City which for me destructed the mountain already due to its expansion going upward to the foot of the mountain, making it over looking to the city and yet compromising the forest. Well anyway, going to the jump off was a long standing ride enough to warmed up our legs, on a huge dump truck from the local city government of Bacolod.

So after we arrived the jump off area, before starting the trek I had some warm up stretch to avoid some injuries later. We started the trek going to Mt. Mandalgan via Campuestohan trail. It was my second time climbing Mt. Mandalagan but first time in Campuestohan trail.

Picture along the trail, There are more water source in the trail so no need to carry heavy water bottles of water, just enough water for the next water source. The trail was quiet difficult because its a long mountain steep single trail under a very thick green forest of Mt. Mandalagan- Tinagong Dagat. We need to have more additional minutes in rest. At rest I took picture with my buddies resting catching their breath with a  cloud of tiny water droplets which helped you feel relaxed and keep you calmed. 

Still we can managed to take pictures and smile but some are tired, some had blisters already.

After almost 7 hours of trek and rest we arrive at the camp wide big enough campsite Tinagong-Dagat, It is a flat terrain on top of a mountain and was said to be an old crater. Its a very serene and inviting place to relaxed and reward after a long hours of trek, Its worth the trek. The wide campsite was waiting for us. There a very friendly Bantay Gubat greet us and welcomed us all to Tinagong-Dagat.





Arrived at the campsite, we rested and took pictures while still gasping our breath, managed to smile after a hard trek.












Rest, rest, rest, rest and rest was all we did for the first 30 minutes. Savoring the fresh air that the forest offer and a very tempting wide view of the campsite.

              

          We  set up our tent, I am  using Silangan Rev 20 tent of Silangan Outdoor Equipment of Cebu CIty, proud to used quality local outdoor products.
Afterwards cooking our early dinner will be next. We prepared a good menu for this climb.

Cliff and Claire are in charged on the move for cooking our sumptuous dinner. I must be hungry this time. Have a great cooking time.











                                           
                                         Dinner is ready!
                        We are about to attack!

                                            Presenting our three menu, chicken basil leaves adobo , pork and beans with egg, and pork potato with rosemary leaves dish. and oppps!! I almost forgot out asparagus soap. Sosyal!

                       

                         Chicken Basil leaves Adobo.








After Dinner, we started to mingle again other climber, play soccer and Frisbee as if our energy level was high enough until night socials.

 










About to kick the ball was potsky, One of the friendly organizer of Panikang-tikang.



            At night during social, we introduced our self and the organizer gave us the current situation and happening in Mt.Mandalagan and on how we can help protect our forest especially the NNNP who was currently under exploration by an energy company. The event Panikang-tikang is a Hiligaynon word which means to stride or trek.The said event is a MOUNTAINEERING ACTIVITY that aims the participant to experience to trek inside the Northern Negros Natural Park and learn and observe the biodiversity and the current state of the natural park.taken from organizer FB account. The Night was about to end and I had to say ahead goodnight to my fellow climber. Its about time to sleep.

           




Early Morning singing bird woke us up, together with the call of nature.

Morning singing bird searching for early breakfast.

                  Wild flowering plants surrounded  the campsite that make it more wonderful and mystical.











We took our mandatory couple picture every climb.

We had our breakfast.









                      RJ one of the GreenAlert organizer




After the breakfast we had to packed our thing back in our packs to descend going to the exit point for another socials and at the same time a dialogue from the locals and Brgy.Officials regarding environmental issues.